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How to get to Azrou by Air, Rail, Coach & Ferry
Important Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry into Morocco! Time zone GMT; 1 GBP=12.7Dh Moroccan Dirham
Fez airport is 1 hour from Azrou we'll greet you there!
By Air
STOP PRESS! May 4th Ryanair www.ryanair.com/ start direct flights 3 days a week from London Stansted to Fez from GBP 60 RETURN!
We find when booking in advance skyscanner.net has the best results for finding that affordable Indirect flight to Fez Sais starting from as little as GBP 35 return
Direct 3 hour flight to Fez from London starting from GBP135 return.
The national airlines are Royal Air Maroc: www.royalairmaroc.com/ fly's from Gatwick and Heathrow and its low-cost carrier subsidiary Atlas Blue www.atlas-blue.com/ fly,s from Gatwick.
The main International airports are Casablanca and Tangier. Other international airports include Rabat-Sale(RBA), Fez Sais (FEZ) and Marrakech (RAK). All are popular destinations and have connecting to flights.
There are railway links to Meknes.
Other airlines serving Morocco include
Skyscanner.net Advance Indirect flight to Fez Sais from GBP 35 return.
Ryanair: www.ryanair.com/ fly direct to Fez from Europe: Girona (Barcelona) (GRO), Frankfurt (Hahn), Marseille Provence MP2, Alicante (ALC), Brussels(CRL), Milan (Bergamo)(BDY), and Seville (SVQ) direct to Fez
Easyjet: www.easyjet.com/
Royal Air Marco: www.royalairmaroc.com/
France: www.airfrance.co.uk/
Netherlands: www.klm.com/
Spain:www.Iberia.com/
There are railway links from all Moroccan airports to Meknes
See: Moroccan trains(in French)see: www.oncf.ma/
By Rail
Eurostar: www.eurostar.com/
French trains: www.voyages-sncf.com/
Moroccan trains:(in French)see: www.oncf.ma/
By coach
Coaches departing from Victoria Coach Station London serve destinations in Morocco. For further information see
http://www.eurolines.com/ or http://www.nationalexpress.com/
Alternatively fly to Malaga airport:
1. Just outside you can take the coach direct to Marbella bus station,a 45 minute run, 3.59 Euros.
2. Then take the coach to Algeciras, one hour & 45 minutes 8.60 Euros.
3. Just a 15 minutes walk south to Algeciras Ferry port, ferries run frequently to Tangier you can buy your tickets from Algeciras bureaus or at the port, foot passenger ticket is 35Euros. No need to book [Ferries also sail to Ceuta the Spanish enclave].
4. When arriving at Tangier port you can take a taxi straight off the dock to the train station (La Gare) for 5 Euros/ 50Dh.
5. Buy your train ticket to Meknes then telephone us with [card in reservation pack] with arrival time and your transfer to Azrou will be waiting at the first Meknes train station. or you can take a petit taxi for 2.25 Euros/25Dh.You ask for "Station grand taxi Azrou",an hours trip is 3 Euros/ 30Dh a seat or pay for 6 seats and you have an exclusive taxi!
Ferries from Spain:
Taking your car, or going as a foot passenger,ferries are available from Algeciras and Tarifa to Tangier. Crossing is about 2.5 hours or fast crossing 1 hour. [No need to book]
http://www.frs.es/eng/
also http://www.trasmediterranea.es/
Ferries from France
Sete to Tangier. Regular sailings from Sete in the Southwest of France run by Comanav (Compagnie Maroccaine de Navigation) for sailing times and fares see. http://www.comanav.co.ma/

Train operator in Morocco
Office Nationale des Chemins de fer (ONCF) - for fares and train times (in French) see http://www.oncf.ma/
Trains from Tangier to Meknes
Tariff first class 117 Dirhams=7 GBP, second class 79.5 Dirhams=5 GBP. O.N.C.F is an excellent comfortable service a 4-hour run from Tangier to Meknes. Changing at Sidi Kacem there is also a Buffet trolley serving drinks & snacks. ONCF (in French) see http://www.oncf.ma/
Embassies
UK: Moroccan Embassy, 49 Queen's Gate Gardens, London SW7 5NE (Tel: 020 7581 5001/4).
Consular section: Diamond House, 97/99 Praed St London W2 (Tel: 020 7724 0719).
Morocco: British Embassy,
17-boulevard de la Tour Hassan, BP 45 Rabat (Tel: 00 212 37 72 9696). Consulates in major cities.


Further information for visitors to Azrou
Morocco's Motto: "God, Nation, King"
The Moroccans respect the 'Koran' as their religious book and all the descendants of the prophet. They also consider the 'Mosque' as their centre of worship and there are numerous mosques that boldly stand across the country, beautiful in their design. Thus religion in Morocco plays a very important role in preserving the culture and tradition of the nation.
Morocco observes the Muslim holidays of: Islamic New Year, Prophet Muhammad's birth anniversary, Eid al Adha, Eid al Fitr as state holidays.
Women, especially those travelling alone, will attract attention. To minimise being pestered and more out of respect, one should dress inconspicuously and avoid wearing clothes that could be regarded as provocative (IE: short hemlines and low-necklines & strapped tops), with the exception of on the beach. As for grown men, revealing short-shorts are also frowned upon.
To carry bibles in Arabic, to attempt to distribute any non-Muslim/evangelical literature or be involved in any such activity is against the law.
Ramadan Muslims follow the lunar calendar and the ninth month of our calendar is called the Ramadan, able-bodied Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk. Fasting includes no eating, drinking, cigarette smoking, or gum chewing and no sex. On the Iftar which is the time for breaking the fast, gatherings of families and friends celebrate and dine on traditional festival cuisine.
Languages in Morocco Classical Arabic is Morocco's official language, but the country's distinctive Arabic dialect is the most widely spoken language in Morocco. French is Moroccan's primary language of business. There are three main accents used in Morocco and they are Tachelhit, Tamazight and Tarifit. So when you get to Azrou, you will experience a lot of Tamazight heard on the mountain and amongst the livestock traders at the weekly Souk (market) too.
Arts and Crafts in Morocco Morocco has for centuries, been the holder of a great variety of artistic traditions, a great wealth that reflects the ethnic and cultural characteristics of the people who occupy the country. That way, we find many kinds of artistic work, like the intricate woodworks, most of which are sculpted and painted ornately, the colourful and the beautifully adorned pottery and lovely carpets that will leave you wonderstruck. In Azrou centre, eyes and hands work together at the artisan complex of the city which will mesmerize any visitor with its myriad of colourful masterpieces. In the mountains, the Berbers are always the best original source for the wonderful carpets, most of which are coloured in red and ochre, the colours of land, adorned with Tifinagh (the Berber language alphabet).
Please keep in mind that shopping at Berber houses and artisanals means directly helping them keep alive ancient art forms for everyone's enjoyment.
Music and Dance in Morocco
Moroccans as a population love music and dance. No party or marriage is complete without a band present. The music and dance forms are Andalusian, Guerda, Casbah, Gharnati, Gnawaa and Chaabi. However, amongst the various popular folklore of Morocco, it is her particularly lovely Ahidous bands that will leave you spellbound. Every chant has a story to tell about one particular aspect of Amazigh (the Mid-Atlas Berber) culture and her Cedar forest.
Etiquettes Islam is practised by the majority of Moroccans; Islam emanated from Saudi Arabia. Among certain obligations for Muslims are, to pray five times a day - at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening. Friday is the Muslim holy day; one has to pray the second prayer of the day in the mosque and after hear a speech of 30 min-that's what makes lunch time on Friday in an Islamic country holiday time.
Family
Moroccans' most cherished possession is their honour and dignity, which reflects not only on themselves but on all members of their extended family; the elderly are revered and respected and often exert a great influence on the rest of the family. Meeting
To greet a person of the same gender in Morocco shake his right hand; with a friendlier relationship, they kiss lightly on both cheeks, beginning with the left cheek while shaking the hands. When greeting many people start on your right and then work your to your left. A greeting between the opposite sex is initiated by the woman (a man cannot force her if she is not willing) and they can greet each other by bowing their heads. This is very important in Moroccan etiquette.

• Say good bye to every body when one leaves.
• When you have an appointment with some one, be on time and be ready to wait.

When you are invited

A small gift for the children is seen as a token of affection.

Remove your shoes if they have a carpet in the salon.

Food and conversation may not entertain mixed-sex groups.

Food is generally served in Moroccan salon at a knee-high round table, with the Berber you may sit on the floor as the table is less high.

Gifts are not opened when received.

A washing basin will be brought to the table before the meal is served. Hold your hands over the basin while water is poured over them. Dry your hands on the towel provided.

Food is served from a communal bowl.

Eat and drink only with the right hand.

Water is often served from a communal glass.

Expect to be urged to eat more food than you can.

The washing basin will be brought around the table again at the end of the meal.

Treat them as if they were part of your family to share with you the warmth of Moroccan hospitality.